Cord dispenser



Apr. l 1o, 1923.

c. c; HELMAN com) DISPENSER 2 sheets-sheet A1 Filed -June 29 A TTo R N YC. C. HELMAN CORD DISPENSER Apr. 10, 1923.

Filed June 29, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 FIG. il.

l N v BNTQR C.. C. HELMAN ATTOR N EY Patented Apr. 10, i923.

i? i@ E CALVIN c. HE'LMAN, or CLEVELAND, omo.

Application filed June 29, 1921. Serial No. 481,304.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALVIN C. HELMAN, acitizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Cord Dispensers; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andeXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to devices for holding and dispensing'cord or string, such as used in stores and elsewhere, or supplying cordor twine and tying bundles and packages, and the invention aims toprovide a novel and improved device of that ln'nd including a reel orspool which can hold a large quantity of cord or string. Another objectis the provision of novel lmeans for mounting the reel or spool for theunwinding of the cord therefrom, and arranged, when the c'ord is brokenand released, to wind up the cord a desired amount.

to withdraw the terminal thereof out of thel way, but still withinreach.

A further object is the provision of a cord ydispenser including a pairof reels or spools for dispensing two cords or strings, and theconstruction being compact and simple. y

A' still further object is the provision of a reel or spool mountingincluding a springreturned member mounted for rotation and on which thereel or spool is frictionally mounted, in order that ,the cord in'beingunwoundwiirom the reel or spool will rotate said member a predeterminedamount, for the partial rewinding ot the cord when it is released.

Another object or the invention is the provision of a novel springtension device for the cord to prevent the too free unwinding of thecord and to also offer tension when the cord is rewound or retracted,`so as to avoid tangling or excessive movement of the cord either wayand to control the rewinding or retraction of the cord..

With the Jforegoing and'other objects in view, which will be understoodas the description proceeds, the invention resides in the constructionand arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it beingunderstood that changes can be made with- Jfor wrapping up doublespindle thus Fig. 4 .is a section onthe ylined-#4: of`

Fig. 3. 1 y .f i f Fig. 5 is an elevation of amOdiedform of dispenserforuse on a counter, table or similar support.

4., is intended to be suspended from the'ceilingor other overheadsupport,` and the casing, which may be of sheet'metalA or'other Thedevice, as shown in Figs. 1,2, 3 and i Suitable material, islof circularcontour and substantially elliptical diametrical section.

The casing includespthe annular rim` 7 and the convened sides 8 whichare hinged,. as at 9,v to the rim 7, so that `saidy sides canbe. swungopen .for replenishing thecord, Vand the edges. ot' the sides 8areol'set, as at 10, to iit'over the rim 7. Therim 7 has anupstandingapertured ear 1,1 at the top, for the engagement of a link or chainhanger 12,

'which can engage a suspension hooki13, or

the like,nwhich; may be. carried by' any ornamentalsupporting member 14to be'secured to the ceiling or othersupport.

In order toaccommodate two casing has a central partition 15 tweenthesides 8,`wi'th its edge seated within an annular groove 16 .with whichthe rim` 7 is provided between the edges thereof. The lpartition 15supports the means for mounting the spools.,v as will presently appear.

spools,` the the partition 15 centrally of the casing, and

yis secured tothe partitionby means'o'fa pair of 'collars' or nuts 18screw-threaded or otherwise secured on the .intermediate portion ofthespindle and bearing against the oppositesides of thepartition. Theprojects perpendicularly from the partition at opposite sides,and spoolreceiving and supporting members 19 are mounted on the doublespindle atthe op# postesides of the partition. r Said mem-f therein be- A spindle17 extends transversely .through f bers 19 are tubular and have inturnedflanges 20 at their outer ends mounted for rotation on the reduced outerends 210i the spindle 17, and retaining screws 22 are engaged in theends ot the spindle for hold ing said members 19 thereon. rlhe innerends of the members 19 are itted on the collars18 'for rotation, andhave outturned flanges 23. A coiled torsion spring` 211 is disposedlWithin each member 19 around the spindle, and its outer end isengaged-through the flange 2O of saidv member, as at 25, While the innerend of the spring is engaged in a slot 26 in the spindle.

A pair of spools or reels 27 are provided to be disposed at the oppositesides orp'the partition 15 in the tivo compartments ot the casing. Saidspools have hubs 28 to it rictionally on the members 419, and the vinnerllanges or side plates 29 oit the spools are llat to be disposedadjacent to the partition 15, While the outer yflanges or 'side 'plates30 are convexed similarly to the sides 3 of the casing. These spools canbe readily slid onto the members 19, When the sides 3 of the casing areswung open, andy the spools Will come to rest against the flanges 23which serve as stops to limit the movement of the spools on the members19. The cords or strings 31 extend downwardly through apertures 32 inthe bottom portion of the rim 7, and slots 33 eX- tend from saidapertures to the edges ofthe rim 7, Afor insertingl the cords into saidapertures When the` spools have been applied to the members 19. l

:The'tension or gripping devices comprise leaf'springs 34 secured byrivets 35 or'other- Wise on the bottom portion o' the rim 7, `free endportions disposed over with their the apertures 32 and rounded orcurved, as

at 36, to avoid tearing or cutting the cord. The springs 341 are Ainreversed positions, as shown, atthe opposite sides of the partition 15,and When the cords are inserted through the slots 33 into the apertures32, they are passe-d under the springs Which clamp `or 'grip thecordsivith the desired tension betyveen the springs and rim 7. This Willslightly impede the movement of the cords inueit'h'er direction. .A pushbutton 37 is secured t'o each spring 34 and 'extends slidaloly downwardvor. outward through the rirn 7 for convenience in lifting the springwhen threading the cord through the rim 7 and to release the Vcord so asto be Wou-nd back on thespool.

' ln using the-device, When a cord 31 'is lOf than@ with@ Spool 0.111the or pulled from the casing, such as .when tjy'fingv responding'm'llli .,l.9 yvill, rotate said member with the spool, thereby bringingthe corresponding spring 241 under tension. rlhe member 19, however,will only rotate a predetermined amount, until the springv tensionovercomes the friction betweenthe member 19 `and spool, so that when thecord or string is broken and released, ythe spool will only be rotatedbackwardly a predetermined amount, to Wind up the cord and retract same,but not excessively, as would be apt to pull the cord out of reach.Thus, although any length of' cord can be unWound from `the spool', thespool is only rotated hackivardly a predeterminedamount` to retract thecord the desired distance. The'tension devices will prevent the toorapid un- Winding/jor the cords, and will also slightly resist the'Winding or' the cords on the spools When the lcords'are released. IThetension or gripping devices are also ot advantageto control the returnof 'the cords. Such devices in gripping or clamping the cords, will onlypermit the cords to be revvound on the spools when the tension or thesprings 24 is sufficient lto overcome the friction Vcreated by thesprings 34.' However, by

pressing the correspending),` button 37, the Corresp'ending;` spring 341s moved to releasing4- position, thereby releasing' the cord 'so thatit can be drawn into the casingand Y Wound on the spool, suchrewindingfor retraction or the cord lbeingstopped the moment `the spring34 is released. In this Way, byf pressing the buttons 37, Withthesprings 24 under tension, the cords Will be v ivound back on the spoolsthe desired amounts, and such rewinding Aor retraction oit the cords canbe stopped Whenever-desired, by releasing the buttons 37. In this Way,after the cord is Apulled* from the spool. out of `the casing, and ispartially retracted by the corresponding spring A 34, the'l cord can befurther retracted by releasing the corresponding' spring;l '34, leavingthe cord 'tree to be Wound'back on the spool` such retract-ion ol thecord, at the. desired position of the terminal of the cord, beingstopped when thecatch is released by the hand so as to again ,qrip thecord.v

F 5 shows the device as constructed for use on a counter, table or othersimilar sup.a

port. The rim 7 ot the casing' is disposed with its (axis vertical,instead of horizontal as Iin 1 and and the rim 7, hase, .base 11, and aremovable top 3 resembling one oit the sides 3. Said to 3 has its edgelOvoifset to lit on the rim l', and the spool is mounted in the casingin substantially the' same Way as eitherA spool 27 as hereinbefore.

described.y The rim y7 has an aperture 32 ythrough which the cord orstring can extend, with a slot 33 extending from said aperture to theedge or" the rim7, and a tension device or leali spring 34" is disposedWithin the 7. in. substantially the saine manner as hereinhe-oredescribed, being se lio cured by the rivets 35 and having the pushbutton 37"; s

The dispenser can be made in different sizes for various purposes, forholding and dispensing` thread, string, cord, twine, and the like.Furthermore, instead of using the Spool or reel for holding the twine,string, or cord, a ball or cone of the material can be used, the samefitting in the dispenser in the same manner as the reel or spool, sothat such spools, reels, balls, cones, and the like, are substantialequivalents for the purposes of the present invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is l. A corddispenser including` a rotatable member, a. spool of' cord fittedfrictionally on said member Jfor turning said member with the spool andpermitting the spool to slip on said member when the member is preventedfrom turning further with the spool, means for resisting the rotation ofsaid member with the spool and for rotating said member reversely afterybeing turned with the spool, and a tension device for the cord forresisting the reverse movement of the cord by said means and arranged tobe manually operated for releasing the cord to be wound back on thespool by the reverse rotation of the spool frictionally with said memberand for gripping the cord when the tension device is released.

2. A cord dispenser embodying a rotatable member, a spool of cordfitting frictionally on said member, spring means connected to saidmember to be brought under tension when said member is rotatedfrictionally with the spool in unwinding the cord, for limiting therotation of said member, and to rotate said member and spool reversely,and a tension device'for gripping the cord and resist-ing the reversemovement of said cord by said spring means and operable by a push ortouch of the hand for releasing the cord to be rewound on the spool bythe reverse movement of the spool with said member.

3. A cord dispenser including a rotatable member for holding a spool ofcord, spring means to be brought under tension when said member isturned by the unwinding of the cord, and a tension device including aspring for gripping the cord and resisting t-he reverse movement of saidcord by said means and a push button connected to the spring to beoperated manually for releasing the cord.

4. A cord dispenser including a spindle, a member on the spindle, atubular member for frictionally holding a spool having one e-ndrotatable on the rstnamed member and provided with an outturned flange,theother end of the tubular member having an inturned flange rotatableon the spindle, means engaging the spindle :for holding the from thespring to the exterior Acarried by the rim between said secondnamedflange thereon, and a coiled torsion spring surrounding the spindlewithin the tubular member with one end engaged to the secondnamed flangeand the other end engaged to the spindle.

5. A cord dispenser comprising acasing, means for mounting a spool forrotation in the casing and operable for resisting the rotation of thespool when unwinding a cord therefrom and for permitting the spool torotate any amount for unwinding the cord therefrom, said means beingoperable for rotating the spool reversely when the cord is released, anda tension device for the cord carrie-d by the casing for resisting thereverse movement of the cord by said means and operable manually fromthe exterior ef the casing to release the cord to be wound back on thespool by said means and to grip the cord when the tension device isreleased.

6. A cord dispenser comprising a casing, means within the casing formounting a spool of cord for rotation and operable for resisting therotation of the spool. in unwinding the cord therefrom and permittingthe spool to rotate any ing the cord therefrom, said means beingoperable for rotating the spool reversely, and a tension deviceincluding a spring carriedby the casing for gripping the cord andresisting the reverse movement of the cord by said means, said tensiondevice having means operable by a push or touch of the hand foryreleasing the cord from the exterior of the casing to permit the cord tobe Wound back on the spool by said means.

7. A cord dispenser comprising a casing, means within thel casing formounting a amount in unwindspool` of cord for rotation and for rotatingthe spool reversely,- the casing having an aperture lfor the outwardpassage of the cord, and a tension device including a spring secured tothe casing on the inside adjacent to said aperture for gripping the cordand resisting the reversemovement of said cord by said means, and a pushbutton extending of the casing to be ushed to release the cord.

8. A) cord dispenser comprising a casing having a rim and opposite sidesremovable from the rim to open position, a partition carried by the rimbetween said sides, and a double spindle extending through and carriedby said partition for supporting a pair of spools for rotation at theopposite sides` of said partition.

9. A cord dispenser comprising a casing having a rim and opposite sidesremovable from the rim to open position, a partition means on theopposite sides of said partition for supporting a pair of spools.

10. A cord dispenser comprising a casing having a rim and opposite sidesremovable from the rim to open position, a double spinsides, andv dleextending through said partition, collars on the spindle at the oppositesides o the partition to secure the spindle to the partition, tubularmembers on the Spindle at the opposite sides of the partition Yforfrictionally holcling spools and having their inner ends rotatableon'saicl collars and their outer ends rotatable on the spindle, andsprings Within said members connected to the spin (lle and, members forrotating said ymembers 10 reversely.

l'n testimony name to this specification in the two subscribingWitnesses.

CALVIN C. HELMAN.'

whereof l have signed my presence of `Witnessesz R. S. WILSON, O. H.GRAY.

